Michigan politics

We revisit February’s top developments in the Flint Water crisis, the Michigan House’s controversial plan to save Detroit Public Schools and more with Kyle Melinn of MIRS News and Alethia Kasben of Gongwer News.

The role of the state’s Child Protective Services is to protect Michigan kids from abuse and neglect. It is also supposed to prioritize keeping children with their parents whenever possible. But some parents say the agency isn’t doing enough to keep families together, leading to more children in Michigan’s foster care system. We talk to reporter Justin Hinkley about his recent investigation into those claims for the Lansing State Journal.

A new poll queries dozens of politically involved people about some the state’s most relevant issues. We have the results of the inaugural Pundit Poll from its creators, political strategist Matt Resch and pollster Dennis Denno.

In 2015, transgender people were more visible ever in American culture. Women like Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, and Caitlyn Jenner became showed up on television screens and red carpets. But 2015 was also the year with the highest number of fatal hate crimes against transgender people on record. We talk to Detroit Native and executive director of the Trans Women of Color Collective about what has and hasn’t changed in the fight for transgender rights.

Attorney Geoffrey Fieger has filed a $100-million lawsuit against the state of Michigan and McClaren Flint Hospital over the outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease. Current State’s Scott Pohl talks with Fieger about the suit.

How do Michigan residents feel about the economy and President Obama these days? Hundreds of Michigan residents shared their views for the latest State of the State survey. We look over the results with survey director Charles Ballard and Matt Grossmann of MSU's Institute for Public Policy and Social Research.

Long-time Michigan politico Bill Ballenger got everyone’s attention this week when he said the gravity of the Flint water crisis is being exaggerated and that media’s not reporting all the facts. We talk with Bill Ballenger about what he thinks is being overlooked.

Because of the Flint water crisis, last night’s [Jan. 19] State of the State address will be the most scrutinized of Gov. Rick Snyder’s tenure. We hear responses from House Democratic leader Tim Greimel and Republican Rep. Gary Glenn, along with Detroit News capitol reporter Chad Livengood.